Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Upgraded my home Internet from Streamyx BB Deal 110 to Unifi VIP5 HSBB

I have just upgraded my home Internet from Streamyx BlockBuster Deal 110 (RM110/month) to Unifi VIP5 so-called High Speed Broadband - HSBB (RM149/month).

This upgrade increases the Internet bandwidth from 1024/384 kbps to 5120/5120 kbps, and also includes telephony voice service similar to BB Deal, with additional free Caller Line Identity Presentation (CLIP) service and a free Motorola DECT cordless phone. On top of that, there is also HyppTV service with its own separate bandwidth.

Although the Unifi VIP5 HSBB of RM149/month is considered expensive compared with the high speed broadband Internet in some other countries, I think it is still a good deal to upgrade from Streamyx BB Deal 110 by paying extra RM39/month to TM for much higher bandwidth, phone CLIP (identify the calling number) and IPTV.

However, there is also a trade-off. Unifi phone bills don't come with free itemized call log detail. It just gives you lump-sum figure on the call charges.

This is my tested Internet bandwidth after upgraded to Unifi VIP5 HSBB:


Unlike Streamyx which uses the copper line, Unifi is using fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) cable. I place my termination unit behind my monitor.


Note that the power adapter in between the termination unit and the fibre wall socket you see in the picture is actually belongs to my monitor and nothing to do with Unifi.

I put the Unifi premise gateway (D-Link DIR-615) on top of my computer.


Note that I also make use of Aztech HL110E 200Mbps HomePlug AV to connect the line to my TV some distance away. There is another HL110E near the TV, and the network between the 2 units is linked with existing electric wiring in the house. In fact, I intended to buy the HL110EP model, but unfortunately not available in the computer shop.

One "disadvantage" of Unifi is that, there are quite some equipments which need a few power points. If you want your telephone to function 24x7, the broadband termination unit as well as the telephone power supply need to be always switched on. The rest of the equipments can be switched off when not in use.

The first thing after Unifi installation is to change the default operator and admin password of the DIR-615. Operator is a more priviledged account in DIR-615 than admin, who can see and configure more options.


I placed my Unifi HyppTV Set-Top-Box (STB) beside my Astro Decoder. I think I will still subscribe to Astro as it contains much more interesting channels than HyppTV at the moment.


And this is the Unifi HyppTV channel selector screen (Channel 100) shown in my TV. I noticed that the RTM channels in HyppTV is sharper than Astro's.


There is some Video On Demand (VOD) titles in HyppTV, which can be purchased at around RM8 per movie for 24 hours unlimited access.

And I found out that HyppTV supports Picture-in-Picture (PIP) display inside Astro screen. Of course, the other way round to PIP Astro inside HyppTV is also supported.


Currently, TM is promoting Unifi by waiving the RM200 installation charge and also the 1st month subscription fee (for online registration from their website). However, Unifi is only available in certain area only and not yet rolled out nationwide.

If you no longer need your old telephone and Streamyx service, you might need to go to TM Point to terminate them after successful Unifi installation.

27 comments:

rage n roll said... Reply To This Comment

can u still keep your old home fixed line number or we will need to terminate the old phone number and get new one?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@when...........................

If you are staying in apartment/condominium and there is only 1 telephone point to your unit, then you need to terminate your old number.

If you have more than 1 telephone points, or you are staying in landed house, then you can keep your old telephone line. But then you need to pay for both the 2 numbers.

You cannot transfer your old number to the new Unifi number, because they are in different network.

Jet said... Reply To This Comment

Hi! What if I kept both phone lines, but I don't use the Unifi number? So does that mean they'd just charge the internet fee only. Example I choose biz5, so I only need to pay RM200+tax right (since I don't use the Unifi number)?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Captain Jet

It is a bundle, you use or don't use, then fixed monthly fee is the same.

If you use the phone, it is free to call to Telekom numbers (local or national), and it is chargeable to call to other numbers: mobile, international, 1300, etc.

Jet said... Reply To This Comment
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jet said... Reply To This Comment

Can I upgrade from VIP5 to BIZ5? Or would it require installation of new equipment (ie TM staff need to come to my home just for the upgrade)?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Captain Jet

I'm not sure from VIP to BIZ.

But you can upgrade from VIP5 to VIP10 or VIP20 without problem.

David Et said... Reply To This Comment

erm...the modem/broadband actually need ho much slot of plug??

David Et said... Reply To This Comment

another question is..if i used the phone...then i need pay which one number??old one or new one?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Lonely Boy-宗宪

You need 1 power point for the termination unit, 1 power point for the gateway, 1 power point for DECT phone, 1 power point for TV Set-Top-Box.

You might need additional power points for your PC and TV.

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Lonely Boy-宗宪

You can terminate your old phone service.

You'll get a new phone number from Unifi.

Malaysia Mortgage Broker said... Reply To This Comment

I would assume the TV set-top-box is required to connect to the TV as well? Presently my phone line is located far away from the TV. In fact, is impossible to connect the two due to the distance. Will this be a problem then, if i switch to Unifi?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@PS Thoo

Unifi does not work with your existing phone line, so you have the opportunity to pull the new line near to your TV.

Alternatively, use Homeplug as mentioned in my post. My TV is 1 storey away from my router.

Lifejourneyfor Rita said... Reply To This Comment

My TV is in 1st floor but my PC & fax on ground floor. how the unifi system work on this?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Lifejourneyfor Rita

You can terminate your Unifi fibre near your PC, then use HomePlug to link to your TV via the electrical circuit in your home.

CY said... Reply To This Comment

Hi

Thanks for the valuable inputs. Did you have your homeplug ready during Unifi installation? Would TM guys do the installation with Homeplug?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@CY

I went out and bought the Homeplug while the technicians installing the fibre cable, which would take some times.

It is better to have the Homeplug ready before installation. Without the Homeplug, the IPTV function cannot be setup and tested by the technician.

The Homeplug is plug-and-play, no setup is needed.

CY said... Reply To This Comment

Hi Voyager8

Thanks for details, would you recommend me to get the homeplug at the TV end with wireless? I was thinking about and since it is on VLAN for IPTV, not sure if it is worthwhile to get wireless homeplug at the TV end?

Thanks in advance

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@CY

You get it.

The IPTV is on different VLAN, and you can't access Internet with that specific port. No point putting a wireless on network connected to the IPTV port of the router.

CY said... Reply To This Comment

thanks, I got my Unifi and IPTV installed in 2hrs :)

Edward said... Reply To This Comment

I had upgrde from streamyx to UNIFI during the Applying progress i tick to terminate the streamyx does it will automatically terminate or still need to go to TM point

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Unknown

You can make a call to Streamyx @ 100 to confirm the cancellation.

leekk8 said... Reply To This Comment

Can Unifi used for fax machine? Do you know how should be the connection?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@leekk8

This is a good question.

The voice service of Unifi is on VoIP, so it might not work for fax.

I have not tried to fax. You could probably get the answer from their call center.

anu said... Reply To This Comment

hello sir can i know will the homeline numbers appears in the bill if we use unifi im abit worried and confused abt it can u reply me as soon as possible?

Nurul Syakirin said... Reply To This Comment

Will the homeplug work if using extension cord (not direct wall socket)?

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

@Nurul Syakirin

I have tried before. It works, although not recommended.

Post a Comment

Hint: Click on the "Older Posts" link to continue reading, or click here for a listing of all my past 3 months articles.